How did Mahadevapura MLA Arvind Limbavali spend his Local Area Development funds?

Dear reader, our work is empowering citizens: in-depth stories, research and open data that catalyse better cities. This is made possible by your donation. Click to Donate

Bellandur gate bus shelter construction, Aug 2017

Every year, an MLA is given Rs 2 crores every year, to spend on developmental works in his constituency. There are around 180 expense items sanctioned under Aravind Limabavali’s MLA Local Area Development Funds, out of 10 crores in five years.

☛ Click here to see what an MLA is allowed to spend Local Area Funds on.

It appears from the data that Limbavali spent more than half of the funds in building bus shelters. 107 bus shelters costing a total of Rs 5.02 crores have been spent.

There are also curious facts in the way the money was spent. For example, when some bus shelters cost Rs 2 lakhs, others cost 32 lakhs. Assuming that the standard size of the bus shelters are the same, the difference in cost is intriguing. Rs 8 Lakhs was spent in 2014-15 for a bus shelter at Bellandur Gate. The picture below shows the first shelter that was finally built in Aug 2017. Another shelter was built right next to it, in a completely different design. 2018 saw another shelter built across the road. It is not clear which was the shelter built with the LAD fund.

Bellandur gate bus shelter construction, Aug 2017

Rs 90 Lakhs has been spent on 12 projects of constructing school rooms and compound walls. Most amounts are not huge. E.g 10 Lakhs is meant for construction of government high school compound wall in Immadihalli village near Hagdur Ward. Residents say the school is huge, around 9 acres, and the wall is only partially built.